Players 3-10 players Ages 14+ Game Time: 20 minutes +
Do you yearn for betters days, like challenging people to arm wrestling or enjoy winking at people and saying 'Maybe it's your lucky day'? Or are you a different flavour of weird? How Am I Weird is a card-based party game 'for the weird and wonderful' by How Am I Weird Games (https://howamiweird.games) that is similar to Cards Against Humanity (CAH) but more colourful and more office-friendly. The recommended player age is 14+ but some parents might feel comfortable letting mature 11 to 13-year-olds play.
Gameplay
The aim of the game is to out-weird your opponents by giving the strangest responses to a number of scenarios represented on the 'Life Cards'. The scenarios are usually an embarrassing or awkward situation, such as being at a family wedding and the bride asking you on a date, or your ex who bought you a dog asking for it back, or your taxi driver begging for an extra large tip because he needs botox.
To start, each player draws eight Comeback Cards (there are 390 in total) and selects one Weirdo Card (they are just different colours rather than giving any kind of ability). One player is then nominated as the Big Weird Chief, or BWC for short, with each round having a new BWC.
The BWC reads out the scenario on the Life Card and then each other player submits their response. The response can either be from one of their Comeback cards, or they can use their Weirdo Card to come up with their own unique weird answer.
The BWC then picks their favourite answer, and hands the Life Card to the winning player for it to count towards their tally of round wins. Players then draw back up to hand count. Play can then cycle round as many times as you like, even as far as cycling through all the Life cards if you wish. The person who is selected for the weirdest answer the most times wins the game. There is a fun Weird League Table included in the rulebook that gives you a ranking based on how many cards you won, from 0 The Faker to 10+ The Big Weird Chief, each one having a humorous description.
Having played CAH countless times over the years, I've grown a little tired of it. So it's great to have an alternative to be able to have a giggle with at a party. I love the addition of the Weirdo Card, which can be used in every round you are submitting an answer in, because it adds an element of creativity to the game, and also has the added advantage of allowing you to swap up to five Comeback cards for five new ones. This removes the frustration of being stuck with a load of cards you don't like. This is a great point of difference to Cards Against Humanity.
It definitely plays better at a larger player count, as whilst you can play it with just three players it's not ideal. At lower player counts you may wish to add in a random card from the deck as one of the answers so that there's a chance all players could be outweirded by the deck.
Production
When our box arrived in the post it was split (you'll notice in some of the photographs). However, I think this will likely have been because it was packed with another game and probably got battered around in the post. If you order a copy, your box should arrive undamaged as it does otherwise look quite sturdy. I'm a little picky and it slightly bugs me that there is some variation in colours on the Come Back cards, which some cards being lighter blue at the top than others. Functionally it has no adverse impact to the gameplay however, so no biggie. The cards are otherwise of a decent stock and in my opinion don't need sleeving (and if you did they would no longer all fit in the box). I like simple and bright colour scheme of the game and the cards are written in an accessible font size that is easy to read.
Conclusion
So let's break it down for you in our key areas:
Replayability
With 390 Comeback Cards this means that, with a good shuffle each game, will be different. Replayability could vary a little by player count as whilst the box states a minimum of 3 players it definitely feels more fun at larger player counts.
Production Value
Good card stock and a fairly sturdy box. Nice colour scheme and card text is written in an acccessible font size.
Theme
As a self-confessed weirdo I love the theme!
Complexity
Simple to play and quick to learn. One that is easy to stop playing whenever you like rather than having to reach an end game requirement. Great in a party setting.
Rules
The rulebook is clear and easy to read, and anyone who has played Cards Against Humanity before will easily pick up the gameplay.
Uniqueness
Not fully unique as it is similar to Cards Against Humanity, but does have a point of difference with the Weirdo Cards to add in creativity and the ability to more easily cycle your hand.
Value
The RRP is £22.99 which feels reasonable.
A fun little party-friendly card game that's slightly less risqué and slightly more office-friendly than Cards Against Humanity. Apart from those who are a little too easily offended, most people will have fun playing it and it's great that there is a Weirdo Card to be able to create your own super weird responses. One that I'd always happily bring to a party to warm up the night.
Your resident Word-nerd Sueyzanne